Shaihen Heritage: Book 1: Cloak of Magic [Paperback]

S.A. Rule (Author)

Book Description

Series: Shaihen Heritage | Publication Date: February 9, 2006

Somewhere along the line where human nature meets human imagination, myths are created. Somewhere in that space lives the spirit that created and sustains Shehaios, the Fair Land. One man embodies the gifts of the spirit. A man all too susceptible to the human flaws that lie beneath the cloak of magic. The journey of self-discovery for Kierce, heir to the Lord High Magician, and Caras, heir to the chief of Oreath, is inextricably bound up with the history of their land. The survival of their self-sufficient agrarian culture is threatened by the might of the sophisticated Empire of the Sacred Union, and neither Kierce's cunning nor Caras's courage may be enough to save the Fair Land. A story that will take you on a wonderful trip into a fantasy world and maybe reveal aspects of the real one.

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Bright Pen (February 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755210301
• ISBN-13: 978-0755210305
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,972,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sue Rule has been writing since the age of 7. She claims she kept trying to give it up, but it wouldn't let her, so she decided to share her writings with a reading public instead. This decision resulted in the creation of the gripping and original fantasy series "Shaihen Heritage" (www.shehaios.co.uk). The series grows out of Sue's love of history and folklore, and tracks the fictional history of an imagined and slightly fantastic world. It provides a challenging and sometimes disturbing perspective on the myths of the past we all like to believe in.

Sue's other creative life is as a songwriter, singer and musician with Kent folk group, Pig's Ear (www.pigs-sty.com).

She is also Director of Rightshifting Programme for Software Measurement Services (www.rightshifting.co.uk), translating the theory of individual empowerment, holistic thinking and inverted heirarchy from the fantastic into the highly practical. Why? "'Cos actually, guys," says Sue, "I believe that is how the Fair Land is created."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Praise for this fantasy novel is inadequate and redundant., April 19, 2006

By 

Fred M. McCassey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shaihen Heritage: Book 1: Cloak of Magic (Paperback)

By 10, I had read the classics of fantasy. In the decades since, I have grabbed every fantasy novel I could find, swallowing them whole in single-afternoon sittings, searching for that balance between innovative ideas and believable stories, between surprising plot twists and logical consequences, between imaginative settings and realistic characters.

And in this book, I found it. My words aren't worthy, but I wish I could read it for the first time again. I refuse to write any specific details about this book for fear of demeaning its content or giving away any clue to its plot.

I can say a lot, though, in general. Cloak of Magic has a three-dimensional reality; it just happens not to be ours. It lives under the pressure of its history and the fear of its future. It has fascinating characters who have earned their strengths and enjoy their faults despite themselves. The description is so rich, no pictures could be clearer. It has complexity that is so carefully written, you don't realize how intricate it is until you force yourself to put it down and think about it. It has magic and intrigue and personality and emotion. And the plot doesn't disappoint. Cloak of Magic is unique and subtle and clever to any discerning reader.

I recommend this book to people who never want to read fantasy and to those who are well-versed in the field. It's a wonderful read. It's a great book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CLOAK OF MAGIC by S A RULE, December 10, 2008

By 

Jacqueline S. Guarini (NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shaihen Heritage: Book 1: Cloak of Magic (Paperback)

One of the better books I've read this year! For once, I am at a loss to find the words to describe just how good this book is.

The back cover synopsis doesn't do this book justice. It is so much more than it appears to be at first glance.
S A Rule's writing style cannot be beat. The flow of her writing was magnetic. I am all in on this series. The Staff of Power is the next in the series and will be available in January and you can be sure I'll be reading it.

Highly interesting characters, especially Kierce. A wonderfully complicated and down-to-earth character.
The dynamic between the characters is compelling, to say the least.
The land of Shehaios is alluring on so many levels, it is impossible for me to convey. I gradually came to understand the mystique of the Spirit of Shehaios and just what that fully means through the eyes of it's inhabitants.
The shocking ending had me floored; I didn't see it coming as I usually do with most novels. That in itelf is worth a two-thumbs up!

A compelling and believable novel.

The Cloak of Magic is not to be missed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Fantasy, December 10, 2008

By 

James S. MacLachlan (Frankfort, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shaihen Heritage: Book 1: Cloak of Magic (Paperback)

I'm so tickled that I joined GoodReads.com, met Sue, found out about & got to read this book. It is excellent. The first of a trilogy, it starts off with a simple, pastoral world & people that develop as they're pushed into an empire's problems & politics. The characterization is very well done. Traits & flaws are logically developed into twists that sucked me in to a very long lunch hour.

I HAD TO FINISH THE BOOK!!! Do not plan on doing anything else when you get about 3/4 of the way through. You may be able to break away, but it is painful. Not that the first part wasn't good, but the last part just grabbed me & ran.

The second book is due out next month & I can't wait! I've been reading fantasy since I was first reading & it's hard to find a new world & book that is engaging. This is one of the few.